Q: Let’s say president of NASCAR was an elected position voted on by the drivers – and you decided to run. What would one of your campaign promises be?

A: (Thinks for awhile, then laughs). Make NASCAR Great Again.

Q: At the start of this year, exactly 1,160 drivers had ever raced in the Xfinity Series. Where do you rank among those 1,160?

A: I hope in the top 100. Hopefully I can put myself in the top 10, but winning a championship and more races would do that. I see myself as one of the great drivers, but I want to get better. I don’t think I’m the best, but if I’m in the top 100 at this point in my career, that would be good.

Q: What do you think your reputation is – and is that reputation accurate?

A: I think a lot of people don’t know me. Some people don’t understand me, because I’m quieter than most. I kind of stay to my team and my guys a little more. But I’m a pretty outgoing guy once you get to know me, and I’m a pretty honest person, too. What you see is what you get with me.

Q: A famous chef wants you to invest in the new restaurant he’s opening, but he wants you to pick the cuisine. What type of food would your restaurant serve?

A: Probably Mexican food, because you can make it for fairly cheap. So you can make the most money off it. (Laughs)

Q: What is the most daring thing you’ve done outside of racing?

A: I hunted out of a helicopter in New Zealand. I was hanging out of the side of a helicopter with a shotgun.

The helicopter didn’t have any doors on it, and I had just one belt that was holding me.

Q: In a move to generate more excitement, NASCAR decides in an upcoming race they’re going to require every driver to have a passenger in the car. You get to pick the passenger. Who do you choose?

A: My dad (Mike Dillon). If he starts telling me how to drive, I could just hit the wall a little bit and straighten him up and get him to be quiet. Then in the future, he won’t wear me out as bad on the radio. (Laughs) And then the next time, I’d take my grandfather (Richard Childress).

Q: How often do you talk inside the car without hitting the radio button?

A: Probably too often. Sometimes you’re just sitting in there by yourself and you kind of comment on what’s going on around you. While I’m racing, I might call myself stupid or say, “Good job” or “That was badass” or something. (Laughs)

Q: Who will win the Sprint Cup in 2021?

A: Ty Dillon.

Q: I’ve been asking each driver to give me a question for the next interview. The last interview was with Chris Buescher, and he wanted to know your favorite place you’ve ever gone fishing.

A: My favorite place was in British Columbia with Johnny Morris from Bass Pro (Shops). We went king salmon fishing. I caught like a 68-pound king salmon. We were in drift boats and we hit a couple holes. It was awesome, man. We laid it out and caught a ton.

The really big one I caught, it didn’t fight bad. But the younger 20-pound ones, you’d fight them for hours. They’re so fresh. The big ones were kind of fat and not as hard to fight.

And do you have a question for the next interview? It’s with Aric Almirola.

He’s from Tampa, right? Ask him if he’s a Buccaneers fan or a Panthers fan. Because it must be tough being a Buccaneers fan if he is.

Aug. 1: Chris Buescher wins the Pennsylvania 400 at Pocono Raceway. The race was delayed because of inclement weather Sunday and called on lap 132 of 160 Monday because of fog.
Brian Lawdermilk, Getty Images